The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group

FIBA-Sponsored Training Workshop For West African Scientists Held in Mauritania

FIBA-Sponsored Training Workshop For West African Scientists Held in Mauritania

National Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic and Fisheries Research (IMROP)

A training workshop for West African scientists focusing on elasmobranch identification, biological sampling, and conservation
was held at the National Mauritanian Institute for Oceanographic and
Fisheries Research (IMROP) in Nouadhibou, Mauritania
on 13-16 December 2004. Mr. Mika Diop, a fisheries biologist with IMROP, served as the local host. The workshop was well
attended with participants traveling from three African nations, Senegal, Guinea, and Mauritania

The workshop was led by three prominent elasmobranch scientists.
Bernard Séret (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France) taught
participants about the identification of shark species found off the coast of West Africa;
Rui Coelho (Universidade do Algarve, Portugal) demonstrated
biological sampling techniques; and George Burgess (Florida Program For
Shark research, University of Florida, U.S.A.) covered elasmobranch conservation and fishery management.
These three presentations are currently available for download.

Funding for the workshop was provided by the Fondation Internationale du Banc d'Arguin (FIBA) who, along with the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Shark Specialist Group (SSG), sponsored this workshop. The FIBA is the main international conservation organization to assist Mauritania in the preservation of the Banc d'Arguin National Park, classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

The elasmobranch workshop was well received and served as an excellent starting point for future elasmobranch management activities in the region.